Ureaplasma urealyticum laboratory findings

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Fatimo Biobaku M.B.B.S [2]

Microbial culture method and/or PCR-based techniques are the two reliable methods for making a diagnosis of Ureaplasma colonization/infection. PCR-based techniques are more sensitive than culture.^[1][2][3]

Colonization and infection with Ureaplasma species are diagnosed based on culture results and/or PCR.^{[2][4][5][6][7][8][3]}

Culture method: Ureaplasma species have been cultured from different sites of the body of infants such as the blood, CSF, nasopharynx, endotracheal secretions, gastric aspirates, pleural fluid, lung and brain tissue. Ureaplasma species are also the most common organism isolated from infected amniotic fluid and placenta. Culture from sites such as the urogenital tract, rectum, and joint aspirate, has been documented. Conventional bacteriologic culture methods cannot identify these species and special culture for Mycoplasma is often used.

PCR-based method: This is a rapid and more sensitive technique for detection of Ureaplasma species compared to microbial culture method.

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